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1932 & 1980 Winter Olympic Museum

Artifacts/Exhibits

You will begin your journey through time in ancient Greece, where the Olympic Movement got its start, and wind your way through history into the present, where more than a dozen athletes from the Lake Placid area participated at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. Come visit us and explore the history and heritage of winter sports in Lake Placid, the first winter resort in the United States, through artifacts, photographs, and videos. While moving through the exhibits, you will discover the unique design and cultural differences of each host country through their medals, torches, posters and mascots.

Featured Artifact

First Gold Medal Ceremony Cannon
This Model 1898 Breech Loading Cannon was patented on August 20, 1901 by Winchester Repeating Arms Co., Inc in New Haven, CT. As mandated by the International Olympic Committee Rules of Procedure, the cannon was fired at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 1932 Olympic Winter Games. It is currently on loan from the collection of H.L. (Jack) Garren; courtesy of Peggie (Garren) La Posta & James E. La Posta of Troy, NY.


Treasures

Test Your Knowledge
question1Question:
In which sport was this protective equipment used?
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Answer - While many assume that this was an ice hockey helmet, in reality it was used by the 1932 United States Olympic Bobsled team.

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question1Question:
What speed skating siblings won medals in 1980?
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Answer - While Beth Heiden won the bronze medal in the women's speed skating event in 1980, this was overshadowed by her brother, Eric, becoming the first person in Olympic history to win five gold medals in the same Games.

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question1Question:
Which family holds the distinction of having three generations of winter Olympians?
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Answer - The Shea family from Lake Placid represents the first three-generation family to compete in the Winter Olympic Games for the United States. John A. "Jack" Shea (1932 speed skating), James "Jim" Shea, Sr. (1964 nordic combined), and James "Jimmy" Shea, Jr. (2002 skeleton).

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question1Question:
What items can be found within this 1980 Figure Skating dress?
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Answer - This Bob Mackie dress was designed for Linda Fratianne. She skated so well wearing this dress for her short program that she decided to wear it again in the long program. Sewn into the left shoulder is a pouch, blessed by the Pope, which contains a four leaf clover and a miraculous medal.

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question1Question:
Why were these uniforms created for the Olympics but never worn?
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Answer - The sweater and jacket, belonging to 1940 U.S. Bobsled team member, Angus W. Clain, were never worn because of the cancellation of the 1940 Olympic Games due to World War II. The Winter Games did not resume until 1948 in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

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question1Question:
When was the only time that the Winter Games were staged two years apart?
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Answer - In 1986, the International Olympic Committee changed the schedule of the Olympics so that the Summer and Winter Games would be held in different years. The Lillehammer Olympics started with this change in 1994.

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question1Question:
What royal monarch attended the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid?
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Answer - The Lockwood Family of Lake Placid received this monogrammed candy dish for hosting King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games.

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question1Question:
What was the last name of the world famous librarian, who's son, Godfrey, was responsible for bringing the 3rd Olympic Winter Games to Lake Placid?
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Answer - Melvil Dewey was the creator of the Dewey Decimal System and founder of the Lake Placid Club.

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Exhibits

Charles Jewtraw Medal — See the first gold medal ever awarded at a Winter Olympics. View Image

1932 Olympics — Step back into the era of "Hard Times and Heroes" as you learn about the 1932 Olympics. This event which Godfrey Dewey brought to Lake Placid was held against the backdrop of the Great Depression and features artifacts from Sonja Henie, Jack Shea and Franklin Farrell as well as 1932 Bobsled equipment. View Image

Antique Ice Skates — View examples of 19th and 20th century ice skates. View Image

Official Olympic Posters — Experience the visual history of the Games through each host country's posters which were used to announce information about its upcoming Olympics. View Image

Olympic Torches — Behold an impressive collection of Olympic torches and see what the 1980 torch might have been. View Image

Olympic Medals
Prize/Winners — Better comprehend the thrill of victory as you see up close, prize medals which were awarded to winners. View Image

Commemorative/Participant — Gain a better appreciation of the accomplishments of all Olympic competitors through the complete collection of Summer and Winter Commemorative medals given to each participant. View Image

Olympic Mascots — Let the mascots put a smile on your face as they capture the light-heartedness of the Olympic Games. View Image

Olympic Uniforms — Take a stroll down memory lane and see the emergence of brand names in the fashion industry on the 1980 Olympic uniforms. View Image

Parade Uniforms — Imagine, if you will, your favorite "Hometown Hero" marching in the Opening and Closing ceremony parades. View Image

Miracle on Ice — "Believe in Miracles" as you relive the "Greatest Sports Moment" of the 20th century. View Image

Sliding Sports — Compare and contrast the three sliding sport disciplines of bobsled, luge and skeleton. View Image

Vancouver Olympics 2010 — Step into the present as we honor our newest Olympians. View Image